What is an unpaid carer? Support for families this Carers Week 2026
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Key takeaways
- Unpaid carers provide essential support to family members and friends, often without recognising themselves as carers
- More than five million people across the UK provide unpaid care
- Carers Week 2026 focuses on building carer-friendly communities that better support family carers
- Many unpaid carers experience stress, burnout, and difficulty managing their own wellbeing
- Professional homecare and respite support can help families feel more supported and less overwhelmed
- GoodOaks Homecare offers free resources and guidance for unpaid carers through its You Are Not Alone campaign
What is an unpaid carer?
An unpaid carer is anyone who provides regular support to a family member or friend who could not manage without their help.
This might be because of age, illness, disability, dementia, or mental health difficulties. Unlike professional care professionals, unpaid carers receive no financial payment for the support they provide, and many do not identify as carers at all.
There are more than five million unpaid carers across the UK. They help with washing and dressing, manage medication, prepare meals, provide emotional support and, in many cases, make it possible for a loved one to continue living safely at home. It is, as Damien Green MP once described it, “the quiet heroism of our society.”
This Carers Week, taking place from 8th to 14th June 2026, the theme is “Building carer-friendly communities”. It is a theme that resonates deeply with us at GoodOaks Homecare because we see the reality of unpaid caring every single day.
What does a carer-friendly community look like?
A carer-friendly community is one that recognises the people quietly holding families together. It is a community where workplaces, schools, healthcare services, local businesses, and community organisations understand the pressures unpaid carers face and take meaningful steps to support them.
When communities are carer-friendly, family carers feel seen.
They are more likely to ask for help before reaching crisis point. They are better supported to stay in work, protect their own wellbeing, and continue providing care over the long term. Even small changes can make a genuine difference to someone’s daily life.
Those changes matter more than many people realise.
Our own research, carried out as part of our You Are Not Alone campaign, found that 62% of unpaid carers felt stressed in the previous week, which is 50% higher than the general population. We also found that 55% said they were unable to meet their own wellbeing needs.
These figures reflect something we see every day. Family carers often put their own health and wellbeing last while focusing entirely on the person they love.
How GoodOaks Homecare supports clients and their families
At GoodOaks Homecare, our relationship with caring goes beyond the visit. Yes, our care professionals support clients directly, helping them to live well and independently in the home they love. But we also understand that behind most clients is a family member carrying a great deal.
Our approach is built on partnership. That means keeping families informed, involved, and reassured. It means being a trusted point of contact when things feel uncertain, and sharing the knowledge and guidance that helps loved ones feel more confident in the support they’re providing too.
As our co-founder Ben Ashton has said: “There is no greater privilege and responsibility. We’re on a mission to empower loving, worried families, using our partnership approach and local knowledge to help improve people’s lives.”
Free support for unpaid carers
That’s why we created our You Are Not Alone campaign, to reach the family carers who are supporting someone they love, often without enough information, guidance, or time to pause and think.
Through the campaign, we offer free resources and guides covering topics including dementia care, nutrition and hydration, fall prevention, helpful tools for the home, and how to fund care. These resources are available to anyone who needs them, whether or not they’re a GoodOaks Homecare client.
Frequently asked questions about unpaid carers
Who counts as an unpaid carer?
An unpaid carer is anyone who regularly supports a family member or friend who could not manage without help because of illness, disability, mental health needs, or age-related conditions.
Can unpaid carers get support?
Yes. Unpaid carers may be entitled to practical support, respite care, financial support, and a carers assessment through their local authority. Many charities and care providers also offer free guidance and resources.
How can homecare help family carers?
Professional homecare can reduce pressure on family carers by helping with personal care, medication support, companionship, meal preparation, dementia care, and respite care. This allows families to spend more meaningful time together while knowing their loved one is supported safely at home.
Get involved this Carers Week 2026
If you are supporting someone at home, or know somebody who is, Carers Week is an opportunity to pause, reach out, and find support.
Visit Carers Week to find resources, campaigns, and local events taking place across the UK. You can also explore our free support guides through our You Are Not Alone campaign.
If you are supporting someone you love and need advice, reassurance, or practical support at home, our team is here to help.
Caring for someone is one of the most human things we can do. This Carers Week, let’s make sure no one has to do it alone.
